I’ve got a question for you. When you watch a TV show, movie, read a book, or play a video game, what type of character do you gravitate towards? Think of all your favorite characters in all the stories you’ve encountered. What do they all have in common? Are they strong fighters? Are they clever planners? Maybe they’re brave in the face of fear? Or really good puzzle solvers? Is there something about them you admire? Do they have a flaw you can relate to? Perhaps they have a character trait you wish you had? Or maybe you like them simply because they’re funny?
I like to think the types of characters we like tell us a little bit about ourselves. For me, I always gravitate toward the number two. Each story has a main character. It’s all about their struggles, their overcoming, etc. etc. However, usually those main characters have a best friend or rival. Someone who doesn’t get the full spotlight, but plays a major role in the main character’s story and development. They’re usually the second person on the movie poster. For Captain Kirk, it’s Spock. For The Lone Ranger, it’s Tonto. For Monkey D. Luffy, it’s Roronoa Zoro. For Frodo, it’s Sam. You could consider all the sidekicks to super heroes in this category too. They’re a supporting character who has the main character’s back, and their whole relationship is based on a type of friendship whether its rivals to friends or duty leading to mutual respect and friendship.
Those are the types of characters I find myself favoring. They’re not the main character, but the story wouldn’t be the same without them.
So, how about you? What’s your favorite character type?
nikki diekemper 